Albania Tightens Security Ahead of Serbia Match

Albanian police spokesman Gentian Mullai told BIRN on Monday that tough measures are planned to secure a potentially high-risk football match between Albania and Serbia in Elbasan on Thursday.

Mullai said 1,500 state police will be deployed alongside 400 private security officers contracted by the Albanian Football Association. Another 100 additional officers will come from the Albanian National Guard.

"These forces will cover every aspect of the security required for this match and more can be added if we will need to," the spokesperson told BIRN.

Tension is high ahead of the match following a disastrous first encounter between the two teams in Belgrade last October, which ended up in a brawl.

After a small drone with a banner embossed with Albanian motifs flew over the pitch in Belgrade, Serbian fans invaded the pitch and also threw torches and lighters at the Albanian players as they left the field. Several Albanian players were struck by the hooligans who had invaded the pitch.

Fearing intrusion from outside the pitch, Albanian police have told locals living around the Elbasan Arena not to allow any unknown people in their homes while the match is on.

They have also been required to close the rooftops of their buildings and keep hold of their identification documents in case police ask for them.

Albanian political and sporting chiefs have been appealing to football fans to keep calm and not create incidents during the match.

Albania's team has a good chance of qualifying for the 2016 UEFA European Championship, so the match with Serbia could be decisive for purely sporting reasons, too.

Prime Minister Edi Rama wrote on Facebook that while the match is important for this...